First Aid Tips » Press

Hands-only CPR by Vinnie Jones

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:43:21 +0000

Vinnie Jones shows how hard and fast Hands-only CPR to Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees can help save the life of someone who has had a cardiac arrest.

The Hollywood hardman is starring in a British Heart Foundation TV advert urging more people to carry out CPR in a medical emergency.

NOTE: in USA call 911

Assistive Devices – What You Should Know

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:15:13 +0000

Assistive devices are one of the most unique types of electronic devices out there. Of course, the term also covers a broad range of different products and devices on the market today. Assistive technology is an umbrella term, of sorts, that describes the whole area of technology relating to adaptive, assistive, and rehabilitative devices for anyone who has disabilities or who has different abilities than the general public. The goal of these devices are to make sure that everyone can perform the same simple, normal, and everyday tasks no matter what their ability level might be.

In order to help you better understand the world of assistive devices, think of things like hearing aids, mobility tools, and even medical alert systems. These devices all make it easier for people to live a normal life despite their disabilities or other limitations that they might have.

There are many types of devices out there that people can use to make the world a simpler, easier place to live. These products are typically divided into categories, including:

Accessible Computer Technology
Mobile Impairment
Visual Impairment
Personal Emergency Response Systems
Durable Medical Equipment
Learning Impairment
Augmentative or Alternative Communications
Hearing Impairment
Other Products

The goal of assistive devices is to make things easier for everyone, regardless of their capabilities or the limitations that they may face. Whether or not you realize it, there are millions of people who are missing out on important parts of life every single day simply because of their abilities or the situation that they are in that prevents them from living a ‘normal’ life. By taking the time to develop this technology, the creators of various assistive products have given equal opportunity to people who were once limited and unable to do many commonplace, everyday things.

Assistive technology is only going to get better in the future. Devices will be smarter, easier to use, more efficient, more affordable, and more technologically advanced so that people can get the most from their technology. There are so many different types of assistive products on the market today and people should have no trouble finding exactly what they need. Surprisingly, many of the best technological innovations in the world today have come from adapting assistive products to everyday use because it makes things easier for everyone. People who have different abilities or limitations in their lives no longer have to live with them, thanks to this unique technology.

Tips for Packing a First Aid Kit

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:13:53 +0000

When you’re always on the go, it’s especially important to be prepared. Even if you’re traveling to a vacation destination, you want to make sure that you’ve packed a good first aid kit. This can allow you to be fully prepared in the event of an emergency. It can also minimize the need for doctor’s or emergency room visits. Take a look at the following information to learn more about the need for a kit.

You never know when an emergency may occur. In most cases, emergencies happen when you’re least expecting it. This is why it’s important to have an emergency kit available. You should keep these kits in a variety of places. Some places to consider keeping these kits include your car, your home, your hotel room, and your suitcase. This will allow you to be able to provide yourself with basic medical care when needed.

So what should you pack in your kit? First of all, you should keep all of your items in an easy to find container. You want to make sure that everyone understands that the items inside are for an emergency or accident situation, so you should also label your kit. Many people choose to use a small plastic box for their container. What you use is completely up to you.

You will want to include a variety of items in your kit. You should purchase bandages, various creams and ointments, burn cream, antibacterial spray, various pain relief pills, latex gloves, a lighter, emergency pack of prescriptions, sunscreen, and motion sickness medication. There are many other items that you may consider adding to your kit. You should make sure that everything is packed neatly so that you’re able to travel with your kit.

If you’d prefer, you can always purchase pre-made kit. This can take some of the stress away from purchasing things separately. You will still want to look at the kit to see if you need to add some of your own items. Looking at pre-made kits can also give you ideas for your own kit!

Make sure that you’re always prepared, no matter where you go. With a first aid kit on hand, you will be able to handle accidents and emergency situations as you travel throughout the world. You can never be too prepared!

Basic Life Support Training – What it Takes

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:32:12 +0000

Basic life support training is essential to many careers. While people typically refer to this training as CPR certification and first aid, life support is another great way to put it. The things that you learn in these courses are life saving measures, as well as how to take care of people in the event of an emergency until the professionals arrive. There are many programs that offer the coursework and written material in an online format, allowing you to learn at your own pace. If you are going to help save lives, however, there will be hands on training, as well.

Basic life support training can be taken by anyone, but it is not for the faint of heart. You have to be willing to work hard and study hard to make sure that you learn all of the information that you need to know and help people as much as you possibly can. By taking the time to check out different programs that are available, you can easily find life support training that will give you the education and skills that you need to stay calm and be in control in the event of an emergency.

You will need to check with your local Red Cross chapter or other emergency services to see if classes are offered in your area. This isn’t usually difficult to find because most towns and cities have some type of program in place. Basic life support training is offered for anyone over the age of 13 or 14 in most areas, but some places may have different age requirements. It depends on where you live and what program you are taking, so be sure to ask questions and know exactly what you are getting into when you sign up.

You should look for programs that are reputable and that will teach you everything that you need to know. With so many different types of programs available to choose from, it will really be up to you to figure out exactly what you are in need of when you get life support training. Basic life support training is one option, and people who want to learn more can easily go on to advanced training programs. Be sure that you are getting legitimate classes from a reputable source and it doesn’t matter how much training you decide to take. It will take a little effort and time on your part, but will prepare you for anything.

First Aid Courses – Get Certified in First Aid

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:21:31 +0000

Taking first aid courses can help you be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Accidents happen all the time, after all, and you really owe it to yourself to take the time to be prepared and know how to handle things. Some people have careers where they are required to learn first aid while others just learn it because they want to know more and prepare themselves for handling anything that might occur. Courses are designed to help teach people how to be in control in the event of an emergency, no matter how big or small it might be.

First aid courses come in many different types. You can choose from basic or comprehensive courses, allowing you to get the exact level of training that you need. A general course will typically teach things like poison control, minor first aid like burns, cuts, and bruises, as well as choking, broken bones, and how to handle the waiting for emergency services.

If you take more comprehensive classes in first aid, you will be able to learn how to do CPR, assess vital signs, and even deliver lifesaving aid when needed.

There are also many first aid courses geared toward specific situations or activities. For example, babysitters usually take first aid courses for children because that’s who they will be working with and that is what matters. Sports players might take a first aid class for their specific sport, allowing them to know when injuries occur and what to do or what might happen as a direct result of the sport at hand. There are so many ways to get certified in first aid and the most important thing is to make sure that you find the class that is right for you.

First aid courses are designed to help everyone, no matter what type of training they need. You owe it to yourself to check out the different courses that are available and determine exactly what you are looking for. Make sure that you check with your local Red Cross, adult education center, or other public service department to find out where you can take first aid classes in your area. If you need basic training that doesn’t require hands-on support, you might even be able to find some classes online that will give you a better opportunity to learn on your schedule. First aid training is a great tool to have, as long as you get it from a proper source.

Basic First Aid Tips – Things Everyone Should Know

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 06:19:59 +0000

Everyone should know some basic first aid tips. One never knows when the need will arise where someone is injured, hurt or unconscious. For severe injuries, the first few minutes can be crucial that one knows what to do to assist the person until medical help can arrive. For the minor injuries that happen, knowing basic first aid will help remedy the situation and prevent further problems from arising.

The first thing that everyone needs to do when faced with a major situation that requires basic first aid tips is to make sure that the victim is safe, that those who are trying to help the victim are safe as well. So getting out of immediate danger has to be the first step one takes. Next one needs to determine if the victim is awake or conscious and breathing. If they are not conscious or breathing, then it is important to get medical help on the phone. In the meantime one can make sure that there is nothing in their mouth that would restrict airflow. It may be necessary to administer CPR if one has been trained or knows how to do this. If not, medical personnel on the phone can walk someone through it. Check for any external bleeding. If there is bleeding it needs to be stopped by using direct pressure. Using gauze or terry cloth can be helpful in stopping the bleeding, but do not remove the coverings just hold it in place until medical help arrives.

Burns are another area that will need one to know some basic first aid tips. A burn needs to be stopped from burning as quickly as possible. Generally this can be done by placing the affected area under running water for five minutes. Do not put oil or butter on a burn as it stops it from being able to breathe. Medical help should be obtained if the burn is severe or is a chemical burn. Burn victims must be watched carefully for signs of shock.

For minor injuries there are basic first aid tips that one should know. The first is to have a well stocked first aid kit. For scrapes and cuts it is important to make sure the affected area is free of debris by holding it under running water. It may be necessary to use soap, which will sting but clean the wound well. It is not necessary to cover the scrape or cut unless it will come into contact with clothing. Antibiotic ointment can be applied, but is not necessary.

What is an Emergency Survival Kit?

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:02:55 +0000

It is summertime and therefore it is time for families and friends to spend much time outdoor in the warm sunshine. It is time to enjoy an outdoor barbeque or two and, of course, many water lovers will go to swimming at the beach or swimming pool. In addition to water activities of all kinds and barbeques galore, many outdoor lovers will go camping and hiking. If people do go exploring outdoors then, they might need an emergency survival kit. Therefore, it is very important that everyone knows what is in an emergency survival kit.

It is summertime and therefore it is time for people to enjoy the great outdoors by going swimming at a beach or at a lake or swimming pool. Other people will enjoy the great outdoors this summer by barbequing outdoors every weekend or by going camping from time to time. In addition, after summer comes the seasons of fall and winter and during both those seasons’ people also like to spend time outdoors.

This is especially true in winter when people like to ski, snowboard, and ice skate. In short, the four seasons are a time to explore and have exciting outdoor adventures. However, if people are going to go explore the outdoors via barbequing, camping, hiking, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, or any other outdoor activity the, it is very important that they are aware of what is an emergency survival kit and what is in a good emergency survival kit.

A survival kit is a package of basic tools and supplies prepared in advance as an aid to people’s survival in an emergency situation. Did you know that military aircraft, lifeboats, and spacecraft have survival kits? In addition, civilians such as forestry workers, surveyors, and bush pilots who work in remote locations or work in regions with extreme climate conditions may also have an emergency survival kit. Did you also know that disaster supply kits are also kept on hand by those people who live in areas prone to earthquakes and other natural disasters such as California and Illinois?

Emergency survival kits contain both supplies and tools that provide people with basic shelter against the elements and keep warm, provide for their first aid needs, provide them with food and water, signal to rescuers, and assist them in finding their way back to help. The supplies in a survival kit should contain a knife, preferably a Swiss army knife or a multi use tool, matches, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, bandana, fish hooks, sewing kit, and a flashlight with batteries.

Many first aid kit items can and do have many improvised items in a survival situation such as alcohol pads and petroleum jelly based ointments can be used as a fire starting aid in emergency situations. In addition, did you know that both adhesive tape and bandages for repairs. These alternative uses can be an important consideration when picking items when choosing items for an emergency survival kit that may be used in a wilderness or survival situations. Another interesting fact is that emergency responders today use a more advanced medical kit called a trauma bag that contain greater quantities and better quality first aid supplies. Did you also know that commercially available emergency survival kits available in North American and Europe are identified by a red cross or a green cross? Remember to have an emergency survival kit handy at all times.

Possible Adaptation for Discount Lab Coats

admin — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:57:30 +0000

The following words about the possible adaptation for discount lab coats had their origin in the imagination and skills of a Pennsylvania mother. Forty years ago, one mother wanted to provide her daughter with some way to protect her clothes while in her art class. That mother took an old shirt that her husband no longer wore. She created “pockets” using the shirt ends and a pair of large buttons. Then she embroidered the design for a palette and paint brushes onto the breast pocket of the old shirt. The daughter saved that shirt and used it when she was teaching a Baha’i children’s class.

An online store that sells discount lab coats offers far more than the standard white coat with large pockets, button holes and buttons. That virtual storefront carries discount lab coats for medical professionals, for chemists, for dentists, and even lab coats for kids. Moreover, not all of those lab coats have been made from the standard cotton material. Some of those discount lab coats have been fashioned from fire resistant material. Other lab coats sold at a discounted price carry a ticket that says something like “wear only once.” They are disposable lab coats.

Another type of lab coat sold from such a virtual store front suggests a possible adaptation for discount lab coats. That additional type of lab coat is the embroidered lab coat. Given the right type of embroidery, a kids’ lab coat could find multiple uses. Suppose, for instance that a child has elected to participate in an after school ceramics class. Suppose too that the child’s mother has expressed concerned about how the child might damage his or her clothing while handling the various materials available to students in that ceramics class. Suppose that the mother would like the child to wear some sort of protective cover.

Children usually like to look stylish. Few children want to cover a great-looking outfit with a less than stylish form of protection. Suppose though that a protective cover could be made to look “special.” Would that not encourage a child to don that particular form of protection?

Well, by using embroidery on a kids’ lab coat, a parent can make a coat that appears quite unique. The parent might look for drawings that match with items that are apt to be in the child’s hand. If, for example, a child intends to do some painting, then the parent might look for a drawing of a palette and paint brushes. Such a design could be embroidered onto a kids’ lab coat.

A parent could use the same idea, if a son or daughter were to sign-up for an after school science class. Children can get a bit careless while doing simple science experiments. While those careless children would probably not cause an explosion, they might get their clothes dirty. Yet a child might agree to wear a kids’ lab coat that had an appropriate symbol embroidered onto a pocket.

Most parents would not want to buy an expensive lab coat, and then embroider some sort of design on that lab coat. Such a coat would probably get only limited use. The parent would therefore have reason to consider buying a lab coat that has been offered at a discounted price. Of course, a parent who is also active in a civic or faith-based organization might well find additional uses for such a coat. Such a coat could be used to protect those helping with some sort of “project.” Such a project, a project sponsored by a government, cultural or religious organization, could well ask that a child or teenager have his or her hands on rather “messy” materials.

Travel First Aid Kits – Why They May Save Your Life

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:44:45 +0000

Travel first aid kits come in all varieties and sizes to cater to a variety of people. Whether you commute by car, are a soccer mom, or are going on a big trip, a first aid kit of any size can come in handy. It might save you the minor convenience of bleeding from a cut, or it can save the life of someone. Travel first aid kits are an investment of the wisest kind. When many people pack things to go away for a short trip, one of the few things that may cross their mind is a first aid kit. But, packing one of these may be the wisest decision a traveler can ever make, no matter what mode of transportation they are using or how long of a trip they are venturing.

If one travels frequently by car, creating a small kit or purchasing a ready-made kit is a must. One can go to most pharmacies or a department or grocery store and find premade kits in all sizes and prices catering to a variety of needs. Factor in other things such as having children or pets, and if you frequently carpool or have others in your vehicle.

This will help determine the size of the kit and first aid needs. A parent who has children that are active in sports and frequently takes other kids along in their vehicle will have much different needs than a young, single person who commutes to work but likes outdoor adventures on the weekends.

Someone who is going on a trip and going by plane will obviously not want to haul along a huge kit as a part of their carry-on bag. Even tucking a few items such as band-aids, antibiotic cream, and basic medications like aspirin into a pocket of a carry on can be helpful and better than nothing. For those who are traveling abroad or will be out in the wilderness, packing an extensive kit is a must and travelers may even want to consider purchasing a professional kit just to have all necessities covered.

A basic first aid kit should include a variety of bandages in several sizes, burn ointment, cleaning pads or antiseptic spray, tape, a large piece of cloth [to cover large wounds or to make a tourniquet or sling if needed], latex gloves, basic medicines like aspirin, and animal or insect bite treatment. These are the necessities and should be in every kit regardless of the user and their needs. Other items to add include a blanket or wrap of some sort for warmth, a bee sting kit, a CPR mask, and various bandages and first aid skin treatments for different types of wounds. Depending on the number of people who regularly travel in your vehicle, expand or decompress the number of each item you decide to include. Other items to include with a first aid kit include a flashlight [the kinds that are self cranking and do not need batteries are ideal], a small radio, a pocket knife or multi tool, and if weather gets cold in your area a trauma kit that includes blanket s and a few articles of warm clothing.

Pre made kits are inexpensive and cover a wide range of needs. From less than ten dollars to more than fifty dollars, a person can have a pre made kit that includes a large variety of items, some of which may not be purchased alone. No matter what, determine your personal needs and invest in one. Then keep it well stocked and up to date. A ten dollar investment in a kit may save your life in an emergency.

Being Prepared: What Should I Include In A First Aid Kit?

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:04:49 +0000

Everyone has a need for a first aid kit, and that need for a kit goes beyond throwing one in the car. Depending on one’s personal needs and adventures, they may need certain items that someone else does not. Having a kit at home, at work, and in the car so first aid supplies are never more than a short distance away can make all the difference in times of emergency.

One does not like to think about unpleasant things such as injury, but being prepared in the event of an emergency matters. Depending on who you are and what you encounter each day, you may have different needs when constructing or purchasing a first aid kit. The most difficult part of having a first aid kit is anticipating the needs and acquiring the necessary items for it. A first aid kit in an emergency can save a life. What should one include in a first aid kit?

First, who are you? As a person, you may have different needs from other people. A mother whose children play sports will need a much more extensive kit than a single person who simply wants a smaller kit to throw in their glove compartment “just in case.” Buying a base kit and then adding to it is a wise idea, as is ordering a larger professional one and modifying it to suit your individual purposes.

But first and foremost, determine who you are, your personal needs, and how many people your kit will be serving. If there are small children, consider in buying some smaller child-sized items as one size does not always fit all when it comes to first aid. Those who are involved in outdoor adventures and contact sports are going to want a more extensive kit as well.

Basic items that should be in any kit regardless of the user include band-aids of various sizes, latex gloves, antiseptic, alcohol swabs, treatment for burns, stings, and bites, and gauze or other dressings for a larger wound. It is also a good idea to include basic medicines such as aspirin in a kit, especially for people who are at risk for a heart attack. If there is a possibility of someone being allergic to bee stings or other insect bites, an allergy kit is a must.

Consider ice packs that can be activated and used in a hurry as well as Ace bandage wraps and adjustable braces for those who play sports and are subject to contact injuries. A CPR mask and a thermal blanket to cover a trauma victim are good ideas that hopefully never need used. Objects for splinting and bracing if there are possibilities of broken bones are also of vital importance. Finally, non-medical items such as a flashlight, tweezers, and a multifunction tool may come in handy during an emergency.

One thinks of a first aid kit for the car or work shop, but having one already together in the home in an easy to find location can also make a difference. Consider buying smaller kits for travel and a larger one for home, if one does not make their own from scratch. Of most importance is keeping it full and up to date once it is together. In the event of an emergency, a first aid kit matters.